Liang Teck Meng should resign as SPAN chairman since he cannot act professionally in handling water governance issue

The latest reply made by Liang Teck Meng in his capacity as Chairman of SPAN (National Water Service Commission) exposed how shallow and unprofessional he is when it comes to handling water governance issue.

Liang clearly abused his power when he rejected the request by the Penang state government to impose a water conservation surcharge for domestic user who used more than 35,000 litres a month to prevent water wastage.

Water conservation surcharge is a mechanism to control water wastage. As a responsible national water regulating body, surely SPAN must agree to such strategy. Yet, Liang preferred to play politics and act irresponsibly.

We must not forget that today, Penang has the lowest water rate in the whole of Malaysia, at RM0.22 per 1000 litres for the first 20,000 litres.

Compare this to Johor where SAJ (Syarikat Air Johor) owned by the Johor state government, charges RM0.80 per 1000 litres for the first 20,000 litres. In other words, Johor water rate is FOUR times higher than Penang.

Johor water rate is also the highest in Malaysia.

I think Liang Teck Meng should first reflect on the plight of Johoreans before he plays politics with the Penang state government:

Did Liang Teck Meng ask the Johor state government to seek permission and consult Johoreans whether we are “ok” to pay the most expensive water rate in the whole country?

In February this year, SAJ increased the amount of deposit required to be paid by consumers.

Did Liang Teck Meng ask Johor state government to seek permission and consult Johoreans whether we are “ok” with the deposit increase?

In June 2017, 150,000 consumers in Liang Teck Meng’s constituency, Simpang Renggam, faced water disruption for few weeks when water source was polluted by leachate from Simpang Renggam dumpsite.

Did Liang Teck Meng ask Johor state government to seek permission and consult Johoreans and his voters in Simpang Renggam if we are “ok” with drinking garbage water?

The answer is clear: No, no, no.

Liang Teck Meng is incompetent to solve water issues in Johor and the rest of Malaysia and yet he is trying to be a hero playing politics with the Penang state government which has been acknowledged as one of the best water management bodies in the country.

Liang is unfit to be SPAN Chairman because he is unprofessional, irresponsible, and incompetent. He should therefore resign or be terminated.